The GCC materials handling equipment (MHE) market is forecast to grow to $5 billion by 2020,  it was revealed at a major trade show in Dubai, UAE.

The Materials Handling Middle East 2015 event, the Middle East’s dedicated trade show for intralogistics, warehousing, supply chain management, freight and cargo, opened today, featuring 129 exhibitors from 21 countries, and showcasing over 250 brands. The event is 15 per cent larger than its previous outing in 2013.

The three-day event was opened by Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

An exclusive whitepaper on the MHE market was presented by research from analysts Frost & Sullivan at the Warehousing and Materials Handling Equipment Conference.

Srinath Manda, program manager, transportation and logistics practice, Frost & Sullivan, said: “The total MHE market revenue in the GCC was about $3.78 billion in 2014, which witnessed 4.1 per cent compound annual growth rate during 2010-2014. It is likely to continue in a similar growth rate during the next five years, reaching about $4.8 to $5 billion revenues by 2020. Saudi Arabia accounted for 46 per cent of this revenue in 2014, followed by the UAE with a 35 per cent share, while the other four member countries accounted for the remaining 19 per cent of revenue.”

The increasing complexity and evolving market dynamics in the regional logistics sector is fuelling demand for more technical innovations in MHE, ranging from pallets, forklifts, automated storage and picking solutions, labelling devices, warehouse trucks, telehandlers, tow tractors, cranes, and packaging equipment.

The latest in tailor-made solutions for individual requirements will be the focal point at Materials Handling Middle East 2015, which features six of the world’s top 20 materials handling systems suppliers, including Daifuku from Japan, Germany’s SSI Schäfer and Kardex Remstar, Mecalux from Spain, Swiss company Swisslog, and the US-headquartered Bastian Solutions.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Materials Handling Middle East, said: “The GCC is today among the most exciting markets for materials handling and logistics services, with the region increasingly gaining in importance as a major shipping and aviation hub.”

“Market dynamics are changing and businesses need to upscale their operations to maintain growth and stay competitive, whether in FMCG to logistics, or from retail to oil and gas.  Trade visitors to Materials Handling Middle East 2015 will have the opportunity to meet suppliers that can help streamline their businesses with the latest intralogistics technologies and solutions.”

SSI Schäfer is among the headline exhibitors at Materials Handling Middle East 2015 looking to further its already considerable footprint in the market. The world’s second largest materials handling system supplier is showcasing its range of storage and logistics solutions, including standard industrial racking to fully automated turnkey warehouse solutions.

Matthias Hoewer, general manager for SSI Schäfer in the Middle East and Africa, said: “SSI Schäfer has been present in this region for more than 20 years and can look back to hundreds of successful installations and projects throughout the entire region.

“We manufacture more than 95 per cent of products required for intralogistic systems and we consider ourselves as very objective when it comes to the selection of the right solution for our clients.  This year we’re showcasing our versatile R3000 multi-tier shelving solution made specifically for regional clients’ requirements.   

“Our industry focus is covering a very wide range; food and fashion retail, pharmaceutical, automotive and F&B production are core markets next to third party logistics providers,” added Hoewer.

The strong international presence at Materials Handling Middle East 2015 is also complemented by more than 30 UAE-based exhibitors, headlined by the show’s regular supporters Kanoo Group, Al Futtaim Motors, General Navigation and Commerce Company (Genavco), Span Trading, Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (Famco), and Acme Industrial Hardware.

Navin Narayan, the director of Acme Industrial Hardware, a supplier of warehousing and industrial automation solutions, said: “Acme has been participating at Materials Handling Middle East for many years and we’ve seen the show grow with each edition.   

“Over the last few years, there has been a surge in e-commerce, and this is substantially changing the way the supply chain has been managed. There’s a growing need for warehouse automation as well as automated order processing solutions, and we’re now seeing big investments made for efficient, accurate high speed solutions,” added Narayan.

With more than 30 exhibitors also making their debuts at Materials Handling Middle East 2015, the dedicated showpiece event is the most comprehensive and representative in its 14-year history.

A brand-new feature this year is the Forklift Operator of the Year, a unique competition where more than 70 contestants from throughout the UAE will go head to head in an effort to be crowned the region’s most skilled, safest, and efficient forklift operator.

Returning is the popular Demo Area where exhibitors are showcasing the unique capabilities of some of the world’s most trusted forklift brands, such as Toyota, Raymond, Jungheinrich, and Hyster; while the two-day Warehousing and Materials Handling Conference on September 15 and 16 puts a spotlight on the emerging trends and their impact on the regional materials handling industry.  - TradeArabia News Service